Floor — 2026-08-06 (partial)

Chaplain. Let us pray. your guidance, in all our dangers, your protection, and in all our sorrows, your peace. Namaste.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Today I rise to recognize an extraordinary public agency in the 31st Senate District as as it celebrates a milestone of 70 years, the Harupa Community Service District, again marks its 70 year anniversary. Harupa Community Service District has done the hard work to provide essential services to our communities since its formation in 1965 The service district has grown from a small local agency created to wastewater needs into California premier public agencies serving more than 135 residents in our communities throughout Eastville and Harupa Valley Every single day, JCSD delivers the essential services that working families and small businesses depend on. From providing safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services, operating streetlights, maintaining neighborhoods, parks, JCSD helps improve the quality of life in the communities that I represent. None of this would be possible without JCSD's board of directors and the dedicated employees who work every day, often behind the scenes to keep the services that our communities depend on. I am pleased to welcome today JCSD's Director Lupin Nava, Director Barc Moreno, and members of JCSD's Executive Management Team who have joined us on the Senate floor. On behalf of the California State Senate, it is my honor to congratulate the Harupa Community Service District on 70 years of outstanding public service. Members, if you can please help me welcome and congratulate them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am honored to present SCR 186, recognizing Thriving Families California Foundation for their upcoming 50th year anniversary. For five decades, community-based organizations across California have played an essential role in helping families access affordable, reliable, and high-quality child care and early learning services. This all began in 1976 when California took an important step toward expanding child care through community-based solutions and that recognized that every family has different needs. That vision helped establish alternative payment programs and a statewide network of organizations committed to parental choice, family stability, and the healthy development of children. As of today, that network reaches families in all 58 counties and supports more than, are you ready, 260,000 children through California's Alternative Payment and CalWORKs child care programs. These organizations do much more than just provide child care. They help parents remain in the workforce, pursue their education and training, and build a stronger future for their families. In turn, they contribute to the strength and economic vitality of communities across our state. The Thriving Families California Foundation has been an important statewide voice in that effort. Through collaboration advocacy education and leadership the foundation has worked to strengthen California child care system and ensure that public investments effectively reach children and families Its work reflects an important principle that child care is not simply service for families, it is essential infrastructure that supports parents, children, our workforce, and our economy. And as we look forward to the Foundation's 50th anniversary, We recognize five decades of partnership, innovation, leadership, and service to California families. Friends and colleagues, thank you for your attention today and the recognition of Thriving Families California Foundation. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Aye. Aye.

McNerney. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I rise today with great pleasure to present SR 126, which designates the month of September 2026 as Childhood Counseling Awareness Month. Here in the beautiful state of California, according to the National Counseling Institute, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States. Every child deserves a chance to grow up and live a long, healthy life. Childhood cancer provides an unimaginable burden, not just to the children inflicted, but all the families that love them as well. As many local hospitals cannot adequately treat children with cancer, families are forced to relocate or travel long distance for life-saving care. My guests here today, Misha Mehta and Ryan Colty and Sarva, Sarvana Shana Jers, know this struggle very well. Tragically, Misha lost her son, Rayan's brother. Niamh Colty pronounced, at only six years old, to brain cancer. Sarva also is a parent to a brain cancer angel. Neve's mother and family have spent years building something out of that tragic loss. The Neve Cultivate Foundation that continues to push for better research, better understanding, funding, and better outcomes for those children affected by cancer. It is critical that we continue raising awareness for this devastating illness and encourage further funding towards life-saving research and treatments. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also rise today in support of SR-126, recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. And I want to thank the senator from Baldwin Park for introducing this important resolution. Finding out that your child has been diagnosed with cancer has to be one of the most heartbreaking things a parent can go through. But it's important to acknowledge that children and their families are not alone in this fight. Across the state, we are fortunate to have some of the world's premier institutions that tirelessly work every single day to advance new cancer treatments and ultimately one day a cure. I want to highlight the incredible work that healthcare workers at child oncology wards in my district in the East Bay have done to support patients, including at Kaiser Permanente Oakland and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland. And just want to thank you. Thank these healthcare workers who give families hope during some of the darkest moments in their lives. I want to thank California's voters for funding the California Institute for Generative Medicine through the passage of Prop 71 in 2004 and its renewal through Prop 14 in 2020. Medical advancements over the last couple of decades have significantly improved outcomes, yet we know that there's still more work to do. This resolution highlights the importance of working together to find solutions that help children overcome this devastating disease. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Good morning, President and members. I rise in support of SCR 126, recognizing September as a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. About 10,000 to 12,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. Compared with the cancer in adults, many diagnostic cancers are more successfully, pediatric cancers are more successfully treated thanks to the work of dedicated oncology professionals. Children's Hospital of Orange County in my district has been committed to treating childhood cancer for the past 23 years. There are so many other medical centers in my district, such as the City of Hope, UCI, and Kaiser. They are all dedicated for treating all forms of cancers. They continue to provide innovative and exceptional care to patients, and I join my colleague from Baldwin Park in supporting their efforts to spread awareness of childhood cancer and provide support to the families affected. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. I, too, rise in support of SCR 126 and thank my colleague from Baldwin Park for introducing this. My husband worked, which some of you guys met last night, worked for a company for 20 years. And the owner of the company's daughter got cancer when she was just in her sixth grade year. And she loved family, friends, horseback riding. She liked to shop, travel. And I say all that just to say that cancer is not discriminatory. like it doesn't matter what color your skin is how much money you have or don't have and I can tell you that this family traveled all over the world in different countries to try to try things that were not authorized here in the United States to save Lauren's life and I think there's things that we could learn from other countries and I think that there's things that we could adopt from other countries that would help save children's lives just like Lauren and the ones that were represented today by my colleague from Baldwin Park and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. And I know so many family members here on this floor, members who have either sons, wives, there's a lot that wasn't said here, but I know based on the personal stories that they've told me, but I also want to make sure that we recognize that there a lot of research a lot of funding for adult cancer but still we are falling short in recognizing that it affecting children more and more often And I want to pass this resolution also on behalf of Andrew Hirschman, who is my best friend's son, who passed a few years back, who is a high school student, athlete, beautiful boy, always very healthy. and in one week he was gone. So I hope that we can all recognize here today that we have to do more for childhood cancer research and push for more funding. With that, I ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

I'm Ronald Gil.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye, Dally. Aye, Durazo. Aye, Gonzalez. Aye, Grayson. Aye, Grove. Aye, Hurtado. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Richardson. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Weiner.

Secretary, please call absent members.

Aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I do have the honor of introducing three warriors. I have here Misha Mehta, Rayyan Colty, Sarva Shanna Rogers, three incredible individuals who have been fighting in the memory of their children who they've lost to cancer. And I want to just make sure that we acknowledge them and recognize them here on the floor. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for the purpose of moving AB 2188 to the inactive file.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise to request file item number 321 is pulled from the consent calendar for the purposes of author amendments Thank you Desk will note Senator Rubio you are recognized Thank you Mr President At the request of the author please remove file item 319 Bill AB 2536 by Assemblymember Rubio and file item 323, AB 2644, again by Assemblymember Rubio from the consent calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, please move the following budget bills to the inactive file items 82 through 85 assembly bills 110, 122, 125, and 177. And I have additional, which is to file items 126 through 138 to move as budget bills to the active file and that's AB 111, 135, 163, 164, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, and 180.

Thank you, presiding officer. I would like to remove file item number 314, AB 2429, as well as file item number 291, which is AB 1811, both from consent for the purpose of amendments at the request of the authors. Thank you, Senator. The desk will note. Senator Becker, you are recognized.

And please remove AB 1696, file item number 287, from the consent calendar for purposes of amendment. The desk will note.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, please move file item 290, AB 2467 from the consent calendar to the inactive file.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the authors, I would like to remove AB 2118 and AB 744 from the consent calendar for purposes of amending.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request that file item 318, AB 2502, be removed from the consent calendar for the purpose of author's amendments.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, please remove file item 320, AB 2542 from the consent calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise today to welcome representatives of the Jane Center of Northern California and the Federation of Jane Associations in North America. That association is known as JANA. Based in Milpitas, Santa Clara County, The Jain Center serves families throughout the Bay Area, including communities in Senate District 15 and is a founding member of Jaina, which represents Jain Centers across the United States and Canada. Their visit recognizes the International Day of Nonviolence and the Jain Principle of AHIMSA This commitment to nonviolence is reflected in Jain teachings on compassion ethical living environmental stewardship animal welfare and respect for all life Although the Jains work very, very much on an individual and a congregational basis in terms of this concept of Ahimsa and nonviolence, They have also been global leaders with a belief that there won't be peace in the world until there's peace among the world's religions. Members, please join me in welcoming representatives of the Jain Center of Northern California and Jaina to the California State Senate. Here we have with us today Prem Jain, past president. Atul Shah, president. Yogesh Bhatna, West Regional Vice President. Dr. Jayas Shah, first vice president A.J. Butoria, a community leader and I should add not just locally but statewide and nationally as well and Barron Shah, treasurer of the organization in addition, I understand there are more than two dozen additional members in the gallery today please join me as they have now come over from the California State Assembly as you can see from the proclamation please join me in giving them a big welcome.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, like the President said, we have six items. I'll try to get through them very quickly. The first item we should all be interested in, it's a confirmation of Daniel, a.k.a. Danny Curtin, for the reappointment to the California Water Commission, where he's served since 2010. He's the director of the California Conference of Carpenters and also a consultant for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. He was approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote on June 17th. and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Gonzalez.

Grayson.

Grove. Aye. Aye, Hurtado. Aye, Jones. Aye, Laird. Aye, Limon.

Aye, McNerney. Aye, Menjabar. Aye, Nilo. Aye, Ochoa Boat. Aye, Padilla. Aye, Perez. Aye, Reyes.

Aye, Rubio. Aye, Cioto. Aye, Smallwood Cuevas. Aye, Stern. Aye, Strickland. Aye, Umber. Aye, Valadares. Aye, Wahab. Aye, Weber Pearson. Wiener. Aye.

Limon. Reyes. Weber Pearson.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 8 is the confirmation of Carolyn Thomas Jacobs as the Director of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Before this leadership role, she was serving as the director of California's Office of Energy Infrastructure and Safety. Prior to that, she was the director of Wildlife Safety Division and the Public Utilities Commission, and she also previously served as a Cal OES chief in response to the State Threat Assessment Center, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th. Any unanimous vote respectfully asks for an aye vote.

I.

I.

I.

I.

I.

I.

I.

I.

I.

CORTEZI.

DALI.

DORASO.

GONZALES.

GRAYSON.

GROVE.

I.

LARED.

LEMON.

I.

Aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 10 is a confirmation of Kaylee Bowles for the reappointment of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, where she served since 2022. She's a former Department of Finance director, and she was a cabinet secretary for the Office of Governor Brown, and she is also the former Senate staff member. She served as a staff director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, we just have two more. File item 11 is a confirmation of Monique Moyer for reappointment to the Board of Directors of San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority. She served there since 2020 and is currently the board's vice chair. She also is an executive coach and partner with C2 Communications. She was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. File Item 23 is Andrea Evans for appointment to the California State University Board of Trustees. Ms. Evans is an attorney and independent consultant focusing on housing and homelessness. She most recently was the director of San Francisco-based Tipping Point Community Chronic Homeless Initiative, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on July 1st on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. One moment. Okay. Thank you, Mr. President, and good morning, colleagues. Senate Concurrent Resolution 89 is back on concurrence. The resolution reaffirms California legislature commitment to diversity equity and inclusion DEI is foundational to the justice and fairness of every Californian Amendments taken in the Assembly added 60 additional co That kind of support reflects how seriously this body takes the moment we're in. Today, we continue to see President Donald Trump and his administration actively dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across this country. Most recently, with an attack...

Point of order, Mr. President. It's not understanding that the amendments are just referring to the author, adding authors to the bill.

Well, the amendments, the points speak to the fact that we had an overwhelming number of co-authors added. So last month, in the midst of this resolution moving forward, we have seen additional attacks on DEI, and particularly against the Congressional Black Caucus, as represents—

Okay. Well, I think the point that we're making here is that SCR 89 has been overwhelmingly supported by this legislature, and that is a declaration that California will not retreat, that we will not be divided, and we will not abandon our values that make us the strongest, most diverse economy in the nation. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you Mr. President. I rise today to present SR 119, a resolution to commemorate the unique paleontological heritage of California and the importance of science to the understanding of our planet's history and paleontology. Over the course of its vast history, California has experienced everything from dry valleys in what is now the San Francisco Bay to inland seas filling the Central Valley and beyond. Numerous plants and animals that are now extinct once roamed these ancient lands and seas, including mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and dinosaurs. Fossils are the physical evidence of prehistoric life. They can be found across California, from San Francisco, Monterey, and Los Angeles to the Central Valley Inland Empire and Mount Shasta region. We know about California's ancient life thanks to these fossils and the science of paleontology, which includes a study of fossils and what they tell us about the past, ecology, and evolution. It incorporates knowledge from biology, geology, ecology, and many other sciences. The science of paleontology has played a critical role in predicting future climate change, understanding the extent to which humans have impacted modern biodiversity, and contextualizing modern environmental challenges. It is also important for engaging students and the public as a gateway to science, serving as an incubator for an interdisciplinary STEM workforce. This resolution celebrates the science of paleontology by describing California's ancient life across the state, to include the large mammals from the Pleistene era, the sharks and salmon from the Miocene, the reptiles from the crustaceans, and the ancient reefs from the Cambrian. I hope you read the resolution and enjoyed learning about a few of the ancient animals that once roamed the lands around us. I want to close by highlighting why I authored this resolution beyond my personal fascination with the subject. And I have to tell you that when the mammoth was found in the Central Valley, that was an exciting find. And if you look over California, you can visit all of the museums and centers that have been set up to really see what used to live here in our state. Science currently is under serious threat. The federal administration has canceled unprecedented billions in science grants, including grants from the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and this past May, the White House Office of Management and Budget proposed new changes new changes to U.S. federal grant regulations that would politicize the grant-making process, giving political appointees the ability to veto merit-based grant awards and reduce funding for early career scientists, all which benefit students in our state and our university system. Paleontology is one of many important sciences that are under serious threat. This resolution is both a celebration of California's paleontological heritage and a call to action to support critical sciences exactly like paleontology. And I urge your aye vote on SR 119.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, members. Today I rise to present AB 1923 on behalf of Assemblymember Soria and myself. Fresno County's long-standing local transportation sales tax is called Measure C, which currently raises millions of dollars. For decades, these locally generated dollars have repaired roads, improved public transit, enhanced safety, and helped Fresno County compete for billions of dollars in state and federal transportation funds. Measure C funds are set to expire next year. In response, thousands of Fresno County residents came together to qualify a citizen-led initiative to place a successor message before the voters this November. The Measure Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act is the product of over two years of public engagement involving thousands of Fresno County residents, local government, business leader, labor organization, and community groups. and those are the individuals that showed up yesterday in support of the bill, over 100, which included students and unions. It was an impressive show of excitement and interest in this new Transportation Improvement Act. The measure reflects the priorities identified by the residents and is projected to generate $7.4 billion in local transportation dollars, support approximately 68,000 jobs and produce more than $13 billion in economic activity. More than 32,000 people signed the petition in support of the measure from all over the county, and the required number of signatures was certified by the county registrar of voters. I want to emphasize that. It was certified. The voters behind this measure complied with all necessary deadlines and complied with every legal requirement to make sure the initiative was placed on the upcoming November 2026 ballot. Instead of moving the measure to the November ballot, the Board of Supervisors exercised the option to order a report, a decision that caused the measure to miss the statutory deadline for placement this November In other words they issued they asked for a report and that the report take 30 days in order to prepare which means it goes past The election code states that if a county initiative qualifies with sufficient votes as certified by the county registrar voters, that it must be placed on the next election ballot unless the governing body of the county would like for it to be placed sooner in a special election. That didn't happen in this case. That brings us to the question before us today. When the people do everything the law requires to qualify a citizen-led initiative for the ballot, should a ministerial process delay them from voting on it? The ministerial process is taking the registrar of voters' information and saying, hey, it passed. It's been qualified for the ballot. That's the only thing the board's supposed to do. They can ask for a report, and that report can be very important, but that should not delay the process. They can still receive the report. Let me first say that I have always been a big supporter of local control, and I chaired local government for many, many years and was honored to defend local government. As a former mayor, I fought to protect the authority of cities and counties to make decisions for their own communities, and in fact that's what led me to run for higher office was to make sure that the state was respecting local control. But local control is more than the authority of the elected officials. It is also about respecting the voices of the people that they serve. California's initiative process exists to give citizens a path to get things done when they want to place an issue directly before the voters. When people follow the law, gather the required signatures, and qualify the measure for the ballot, they deserve the opportunity to have their voice heard. That's all this bill does. It does not affect the report the board asked for, it does not rule on the merits of the ballot measure, and it does not decide whether the transportation measure passes or not. That goes before the voters. And it does not impose a tax. It simply preserves the opportunity for the people of Fresno to vote on the citizen-led initiative. And the stakes couldn't be higher. If the measure does not reach the November ballot, Measure C will expire without a successor in place, creating a significant grant gap in local transportation funding. That means fewer dollars for road maintenance, public transit, safety improvement, and transportation infrastructure throughout the county. Without a local funding commitment, Fresno County becomes less competitive for state and federal transportation grants and risks losing access to funding programs. It's not just Fresno County, it's all 15 cities that are in the county. The impact of this decision will not be felt equally. Our rural communities stand to lose the most. The City of Fresno is already pursuing its own local sales tax measure to protect transportation funding within the city limits. And while that may provide a path forward for the city of Fresno, our rural cities and unincorporated communities do not have the same option. Those communities simply do not have the tax base or financial capacity to replace these dollars on their own. Most of the cities are 20,000 people or less. For rural communities, transportation funding is much more than the roads. It keeps agricultural products moving. It supports local businesses and good-paying jobs. It provides safe routes to school strengthens emergency response during floods and wildfires and connects residents to health care employment and essential services This is a short-sighted decision with long-term consequences. And that's why so many people showed up yesterday to testify. In the committee, the elections committee, the opposition argued that the Board of Supervisors ordered the report because they don't like the ballot measure, and that once the report was prepared, a special meeting would not be called to put the measure on the November 26 ballot. So it's purposeful, it's purposely evading the purpose of the statute, and it's trying to subvert the will of the public that worked so hard to put this ballot measure together. The election laws were never intended to allow County Board of Supervisors to circumvent the will of the people. Delaying this vote jeopardizes jobs, weakens Fresno County's ability to compete for state and federal investments, and leaves our smallest communities with fewer resources to meet growing transportation needs. The bill will not override local control. Rather, it will protect one of the most fundamental expressions of local control we have, the right of voters to decide the future of their own community. At the end of the day, this bill acts to protect the integrity of California's initiative process, ensure that the people of Fresno County, and not a procedural delay, will have the final say. I respectfully ask for your aye vote and for immediate transmittal to the Assembly.

Thank you. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleagues' comments. I know that we have worked well on Central Valley issues, but this is an issue where we see this issue from different sides. So the people who gathered those signatures I deeply respect, and they put the ballot measure forward, they submitted the information. It was certified. It would be certified one day late, which is not within the process. I would like to gracefully correct my colleague on the election code, Section 9-1-1-8. It says the initiative petition is signed by voters, it has another paragraph there, but what's important in this is the Board of Supervisors shall do one of the following. Adopt the ordinance without alteration at a regular meeting at a certified position presented within 10 days after it's presented, or B, submit an ordinance with an alteration to the voters pursuant to Section Code 1405, or C, order a report to Section 9-1-1-1 at a regular meeting at which the certification or petition is presented, which the report will be presented to the board of supervisors, and the board shall either adopt the ordinance within 10 days or order an election pursuant to the subdivision B. So they do have the right to order a study. The reason why some of the supervisors are very concerned about this is because this tax will be continually collected from the citizens of the district that I represent. It will be sent to Sacramento, and then if Fresno County's road and infrastructure projects meet the requirements that are in the language of this ballot measure that's on there, meaning that you widen the roads, you have a bike path, you have a bus path, you have bus access, you have electrical infrastructure. To me, I don't think Fresno will ever get any of this money back. It will always stay in Sacramento. And my concern is that the dollars that are collected by this tax will not benefit this community. because of all the restrictions and the requirements based on the ballot language. And I get it, planting trees and bike lanes and bus pass, all those things, free bus passes, all of those things are included in this language to get people to sign up for these ballot measures for increased taxes. The other thing that I would like to share is, and I don't think this bill before us today is about roads or transit or even the voters, It's about Sacramento deciding what they know better and the people that elect our county supervisors. Some of those 30,000 people that signed this petition, probably not all of them, but they supported the county supervisors and put them in elective office to make decisions over them on a local level. On July 8th, the Fresno County Registrar certified the Better Roads and Safe Streets Initiative through the valid signatures. but just a few months ago actually less than two months ago this body passed ACA 22 which put Prop 43 on the ballot which would require a two-thirds signature it was a negotiation that was with outside parties and this legislator only one person voted no on this body floor and that's my colleague from San Francisco everyone else supported that initiative that we put on the ballot and it's Prop 43 which would require a two-thirds vote which is a taxpayer protection measure, that is better than 50 plus 1. And now we're going back just less than two months later to unwind it for this particular city. Under a longstanding election code, 9-1-1-8, which I just read to you, the Board of Supervisors had clear and a lawful option to be able to request a report, wait for its results, and then decide if they were going to put it on the ballot within 10 days. This process, I talked to supervisors this morning, This process is going through the local process according to the election codes that this body establishes, and they are putting it on the ballot. My understanding is this is in 2028, but we're circumventing that process and circumventing local control. The legal certification process would have been placed this initiative on a 2028 ballot, and I do believe that people are concerned about Prop 43, the local Taxpayer Protection Act. AB 1923 now comes after the fact and that the legislature already approved prop 43 and now we're ignoring that fact we're simply rewriting the rules for one county and I think other counties will properly follow there is a process to put something on the ballot there were signatures gathered I applaud them for going to the work and and making sure that they had the process in place and the signatures but again my concern is the funding piece that will never come back to Fresno County because of all the requirements that are in the ballot measure language if you haven't if you haven't read it you should they can't access the resources without doing all these extra things and I just don't think that Fresno County is going to be able to have the ability to do that do we need roads and infrastructure repair in this district in our Central Valley 1,000 percent you drive on 395 you go down to Los Angeles you have great roads we have more roads miles per capita for our communities in the Central Valley where we get almost hardly any infrastructure dollars for that it'll all go to high speed rail but they won't give it for roads and infrastructure and then our counties are supposed to increase taxes on our constituents in order to pay for roads and infrastructure on a local level when the supervisors said they would consider it but they consider it through the process and they the supervisors exhausted their lawful right under the elections code in order to do the study and put it on the 2028 ballot So it's a tough one for me because I know that the citizens worked hard and made sure that they got the signatures to be able to put it on the ballot. But I really don't think that the people of Fresno County, not all of them, not all of them, some of them have, but not all of them have read the requirements. and I'm pretty sure that a majority of this money will never come back to that county after my constituents pay for this tax increase, and I respectfully ask for a no vote and let the process for the local authority and our local supervisors address this issue.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of AB 1923, and I certainly respect the perspective of the senator from Bakersfield, but I have a different perspective I'd like to share. I don't represent Fresno County. I was born in Fresno. I have family that live in Fresno County, so this impacts them. But I see this issue as a matter of statewide concern because I think this sets a precedent for this to happen in other counties, and it's already happened in my county, in Alameda County, just this past Tuesday. And this is germane to the matter before us because I'm making a point. the Alameda County Board of Supervisors using the same provision elections code section 9212 requested a report on the fiscal impacts of a proposed minimum wage measure with the express intent to delay putting that measure on the ballot the supervisors were very transparent that their interest was to make sure that that did not appear on the ballot So now that has to wait to 2028, even though over 150,000 signatures were collected in Alameda County by people who thought this was going to appear on the November 2026 ballot. That's wrong. It's certainly appropriate for members of the Board of Supervisors to get more information about a ballot measure before that measure is on the ballot. I'll note that in the case of Alameda County's measure, that was in circulation for many, many months, so the supervisors could have requested that report, just like here in Fresno County, months in advance, so that that information was before the Board of Supervisors when the matter needed to be put on the ballot, rather than using that elections code section to deliberately delay this issue going to the voters. I think it's absurd that a report could subvert the will of the voters. I think it's critical that we let the voters aside, the hundreds of thousands of voters that signed these petitions to put these things before the voters. I wish that I had the ability to introduce a bill like the senator from Merced to put that measure before the voters in Alameda County, but I was not able to do so. In this case, the voters of Fresno County circulated an initiative. I'll just also clarify the record that Prop 43 is prospective. It's not retrospective. It doesn't have retrospective applicability. So measures that are on the ballot this year are subject to the current rules. And if that measure were to pass, then would be subject to the higher threshold. But that's a separate matter. I think that if people have objections to a ballot measure, make your case to the voters. Talk about why you oppose it, but don't prevent the voters from having an opportunity to even consider the measure. I think that's anti-democratic. Yes, we need to amend the elections code to prevent this from happening in the future. And maybe we need to have a deadline for when that report has to be issued so that it doesn delay a measure from actually being able to be put on the ballot But that a separate matter for a separate discussion and I hope we can clarify the law so that this isn't being used to deliberately prevent a qualified voter initiative from being considered by the voters. But we can do the right thing today by passing AB 1923, and I respectfully ask for an item.

Thank you, Mr. President. There are good arguments being made on both sides of this, as we can tell by the debate, and one more speaker to speak to it, presumably in support. But I'd like to point out that this is fundamentally a local dispute. and in passing this legislation effectively what we're doing is we're not legislating we're acting as a quasi-judicial body deciding a local dispute on behalf of one side of the dispute I think that's a wholly inappropriate role for this body to play and for that reason I urge a no vote and allow the local people to figure out how to settle this dispute, which is the way things should happen.

Yeah, no, I appreciate those comments. I think in some respects we are letting the local people figure out the dispute. We've got the assembly member and the senator who represent the bulk of the county. We've got 11 out of 15 mayors who are asking for this. The reason why the delay happened such that it created this window of time that allowed for the board to call for this study, which would then kick the measure to 2028, was because they had been negotiating intensely with the board and ultimately weren't able to come to a resolution. And so they had to choose this path. We asked them in committee yesterday about whether the board had ever used this, had ever called for a study over the many years where they've had a zoo tax measure, parks tax measure, transportation tax measures, and that had never been done before. The other thing I'll say is it's certainly my understanding that all of this money stays in the county, every single dollar. And I love, I don't understand the argument that was just made. This is money that stays there for transportation projects there. Finally, one of the 11 mayors is actually the mayor of Fresno, who represents certainly the largest city in the county. And that was meaningful to me as I heard this in discussion yesterday because I know that there was some dispute over the way that the allocation of the dollars was being framed around the county. And look, in the end of the day, this is just putting something on the ballot. The voters will have the opportunity to choose. There was a measure on the ballot in 2022. It failed. There was a real internal dispute in the county. And this is just giving the people of the county the opportunity to decide one way or another as to whether they want to extend this important tax, which has been providing resources for essential transportation services for the county over many, many years. And this was now going instead of expiring and that important source of revenue just ending without a conversation it going to give the people of the county the opportunity to decide And it will ultimately be up to them if we pass this today and it signed It will be up to the people of the county of Fresno to decide as to whether they want to move forward with this or not And for that, I respectfully ask an aye vote.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I appreciate the debate. It's unfortunate to be in this position. The reality of the situation is there was a ballot measure in 22 that was put on to extend the tax, despite the fact it wasn't expiring at that point. The ballot measure was put on by local government and did not pass because, frankly, the distribution of how the money would be spent within the different communities, many of the smaller communities felt that it wasn't fair and there wasn't enough revenue that would go towards transit, which is a big need in this area. And we had testimony from students and HHS workers and other individuals that take public transportation and desperately need it and are in support of the measure. As was articulated, this is not putting a thumb on the scale. This is just allowing it to go to the vote of the public. And then people can debate over whether it's the right allocation of money. But it is all local money. What was said is absolutely true. We have one of the highest percentage of highways that go through the area, 99 and 5 principally, but then all the cross highways that take you from one little community to the next and these small communities desperately need resources and so we're putting we're doing the right thing which is to insist that it go on at the November ballot the board can look at the report and make their comments on it and oppose it if they want but but politics should not be allowed to delay when a voter initiative has done according to all the rules and so I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm presenting Assembly Concurrent Resolution 149 on behalf of Assemblymember Greg Hart, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and the creation of the State Coastal Conservancy. This resolution will look very familiar because we passed a Senate one that they've concurred in. They are passed this resolution. We are asking to concur in it. This recognizes 50 years of coastal protection. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Joy, Daly, Grove, Limon, Nilo, Ochoa Bog, Perez.

Reyes, Ciarto, Strickland, Valadares, Weber Pearson.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request file item number 325 is pulled from the consent calendar.

Senate Resolution 109, Senate Concurrent Resolution 182, Senate Resolution 118, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 214, 219, 220, 223, 157, 187, 194, 222, and Assembly Concurrent Resolution 224.

Alan. Aye. Aye. Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Blaisbeer Aye Cabaldon Caballero Aye Cervantes Aye Choi Aye Cortese Aye Daly Durazo Aye Gonzalez Aye Grayson Aye Grove Aye Hurtado Aye Jones Aye Laird Aye Limon Aye McGuire Aye McNerney Aye Menjivar Aye. Aye. Nilo. Aye. Aye. Ochoa Bogue. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Aye. Perez. Aye. Aye. Richardson. Aye. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Aye. Ciarto. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Aye. Strickland. Aye. Aye. Umber. Aye. Aye. Valladares. Aye. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Aye. Weber Pearson. Wiener. Aye.

Alvarado Gill, Cabaldon. Aye. Daly, Reyes, Ciarto, Weber Pearson.

Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, I rise today to ask that we adjourn in the memory of Scott Haggerty, a former longtime member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and a resident of Livermore, California, which is in my district. Scott Haggerty was a leader in the Bay Area politics who represented the Tri-Valley and the city of Fremont as an Alameda County supervisor for a good 24 years. That's twice as long as we're allowed here. Scott led on a range of Bay Area issues, including transportation, clean energy, public safety, supportive housing, the arts, and agriculture. He died on July 5th at the age of 68 years. Scott and I had at least one thing in common. He was also a political novice when he was first elected to high public office. In 1996, he burst into the East Bay political scene when he won his seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors at the age of 38, despite having no prior elected public experience. He was subsequently elected to five more terms as a supervisor. Over the years, Scott earned a reputation as being a candid, no-nonsense public official and champion of transportation who took the lead on several major projects and initiatives. And despite the political environment, he was a nonpartisan politician. He just wanted to get things done. He successfully advocated for two countrywide transportation measures during his tenure that had a significant impact on the Bay Area. He was also a longtime leader in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Key roadway and transit projects in the Tri that he had worked on included Highway 84 extension between Highway 580 and Livermore Scott was also an early champion of a project close to my heart the planned Valley Link Rail Line connecting San Joaquin Valley to the Bay Area Scott also served on the governing board of the Livermore Alameda, Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, the Bay Area Air District, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. He didn't ignore issues that nourish and sustain us by promoting agriculture, land conservation, and clean energy. Scott was also a strong supporter of the Marissa Hunt Agricultural Education Center and Youth Barn that opened in 2019 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. He was also instrumental in developing the Bankhead Livermore Theater, the premier performing arts venue in the Tri-Valley. One of Scott's final projects in office was helping to provide the funding needed to launch Goodness Village, a supportive housing project for unsheltered people in Livermore. Scott understood that addressing homelessness required creativity, opportunities for people to build their lives with dignity. Scott is deeply missed.

Colleagues, I rise to honor the life of Scott Haggerty, a leader whose impact transformed Alameda County, specifically as a board of supervisor. Scott harnessed the power of local government and addressed problems and turning ideas into results. As was mentioned, he primarily focused a lot on Bay Area transit, and specifically in our district as it was expanding and growing. He worked very hard to ensure that our district received its funds, received its support, and much more. Scott was never shy about his beliefs and very direct and blunt about his opinions. I will say that Scott actually is very much the embodiment of what human beings are, flawed and struggling and have problems and have opinions and have hopes and have dreams and so much more. And yet he was always authentically himself. And I will highlight the fact that Scott and I disagreed on a wide variety of things. But he was deeply committed to his ideas and his principles. And he would at least explain why he had his opinions. And I will say that anybody that dedicates their life to public service gives a lot to the community, whether we see it or don't, whether we agree with it or don't. Scott was the individual that served for literally well over a decade plus and tried to do his best when it came to expanding public transit into the East Bay and much more. Scott is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and siblings, and I respectfully ask we adjourn in his memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. colleagues. I first met Supervisor Scott Hagerty in 2001. I'd just been elected to San Jose City Council and appointed by the mayor to our COG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, along with other appointments and commissions. And, of course, Supervisor Hagerty, who already was a member of that commission and other regional government bodies, made himself known almost immediately upon my arrival on the scene I would not have become president of that organization were it not for Supervisor Hagerty which when I look back on my own history of regional government really had a waterfall effect, a cascading effect on my entire career thereafter, because he came up to me. He was a doer. He understood regional politics. I found out over the years how much he understood county politics on his own board of supervisors. He literally came up to me one day at one of the Association of Bay Area Governments meetings with a clipboard and says, you need to go around and get signatures because you're going to be the next vice president of the organization. And I said, who do I talk to? I'm new here. I don't even know most of the people. and he said, just wait right here. And he came back about maybe 10 minutes later with the entire clipboard signed, nominating me on a white ballot. Of course, then I became by succession the president of that organization. It was critical to us in San Jose because at that time, San Jose did not have a seat on what we call the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, our MPO, Even though San Jose was the largest city and still is in the Bay Area, it had major projects going on. And Scott knew it was very important for me to be able to at least open the door to legislation and the recomposition of our Transportation Commission so that San Jose could be represented there. And he supported me in that, not only supported me in that, supported me in becoming a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through means that I won't get into right now, and then subsequently supported the recomposition of that body. So these are the kind of impacts, as we all know as elected officials, especially if you've worked in a regional level or any other level, that don't show up real clearly on somebody's resume and have this massive impact. What I didn't know as we were working on the so-called BART extension into Silicon Valley, what I didn't know from Scott was that he had committed to our mayor, Ron Gonzalez, at the time who had launched that project, that by all means and by any means he was going to support the project on every vote in the future. He never shared that with me, being the savvy politician that he was. So I can't tell you how many times I had to go to him pleading for votes to continue the funding or the things that we needed, including some Alameda County money from time to time, to keep that project going. And, you know, of course, have Scott basically flip the negotiating table and say, if you want that vote, you're going to have to support what I'm doing and what I want in Alameda County. It wasn't until we did the groundbreaking on the Berryessa Station in San Jose for the BART extension that I heard Mayor Gonzalez and Supervisor Haggerty celebrating their first conversation, where Scott had already committed to every single one of those votes. So it was a little bit of, you have to have a sense of humor, of course, at that point and say, smart guy, good guy, good friend, good supporter. I'll let him, you know, get away with that one. Scott became a close friend because we both... I have four children now, adult children, and he had several children as well. And the bumps and bruises of dealing with our own children as elected officials came home to roost a few times. And what a lot of people didn't know about this guy, who was actually pretty gruff and almost overly directed at times as an elected official, was his caring and compassion and concern about others. And I will tell you some of the best advice I've ever received from anybody, including people in the medical profession, about how to deal with some of the issues I was dealing with in my own family. It came on long walks through the streets of San Francisco and in other places with Scott Haggerty, where he just said, hey, tell me what's going on. I want to help. I just want to be of help. and that's the real human being I think that we're celebrating not just somebody who started projects like Valley Link and helped get to Silicon Valley and did all these other things but he did all that but someone who was very caring and concerned about others one of the last things he said to me he came to visit me in Sacramento a few times since I've been here but on our last trip to Washington D.C. together as transportation commissioners he pleaded with me not to run for state senate he said you've done enough you've had a long career said I'm gonna retire and he looked at me and he said life is too short and I just couldn't get that out of my head during his memorial last week an individual who really had more years ahead of him to enjoy his life to enjoy his family to enjoy his his grandchildren and I know they they miss him desperately. I'm going to miss him, and I appreciate joining in on this adjournment today. Thank you to my colleagues from Stockton and Hayward for that opportunity.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, this is with profound sadness that I rise today to honor Scott Hagerty, and I'm going to try not to get emotional, who, as was mentioned, he was a dedicated public servant whose leadership helped modernize transportation and land use throughout the Bay Area. But on a personal level, he was a mentor to me and a dear friend. And like Senator Cortese and Senator Wiener and others who had the opportunity to serve with him, I had the privilege of serving with him in regional government. And like Senator Cortese, I was drafted by Supervisor Haggerty to serve as the vice president of the Association of Bayer Governments. And then I had the honor of later serving as the president, working with him in that capacity. And I was surprised that this guy, he was very intimidating, I guess I'll say that, when I first met him. He had a very gruff personality and was very direct. And we had very different perspectives on issues. I was the liberal mayor of Berkeley, and he was this former Republican conservative supervisor from the Tri-Valley. But beyond his gruff personality was somebody who had a heart of gold and who cared deeply about public service and cared deeply about people. And that was his North Star in his many decades of public service. And that formed a partnership over many, many years. One of the first opportunities I had to work with Supervisor Haggerty was when he championed the creation of our Community choice aggregation public power agency in Alameda County now called AVA Community Energy He was the father of public power in Alameda County. He saw it as an opportunity to invest in local development, create jobs, and help advance our region's efforts for energy independence. And like Supervisor Hagerty, I was a founding board member of AVA Community Energy. and it was befitting because of his work. And this is something we had worked for decades to try to do in Alameda County for many, many years. And it took Scott Hagerty to get it done. And like was said, he was a person who got things done. And it was befitting that when he retired that we named, I think, one of the first wind farms that was built in the Altamont Pass area after Scott Hagerty. I think a fitting tribute to not just the impact he had in creating the agency and creating energy independence in Alameda County, but his commitment towards addressing climate change. he was a giant in Alameda County in the Bay Area and he cared about his constituents first and foremost but he was somebody who was a true regionalist and recognized that the issues that impact Alameda County impact every community in the Bay Area and brought that lens to his leadership at the regional level in his six terms on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors He earned a reputation as a collaborative leader who brought people together to tackle some of our region's most pressing challenges, such as transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental stewardship. And I had the honor of working with him on so many regional issues, not only on the Association of Bay Area Governments, but when he served as the chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. We worked very closely together on the creation of our regional transportation plan and the creation of the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority. Scott's legacy can be defined not just in the relationships he had with people, but so many significant transportation projects and regional initiatives that he helped lead in his many years, as well as efforts to help provide sustainable funding for transportation such as the passage of Measure BB, the regional sales tax to fund transit in Alameda County. In addition, extending BART to Santa Clara County, the Oakland-San Francisco airport connection, the expansion of the Caldecott Tunnel, the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center, and soon ValleyLink are testaments to his incredible leadership. One thing also about Scott, is he was in his 30s when he was first elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and was kind of a maverick. And he really committed his time in office to mentor young people and mentor the next generation of leaders. And I think there's so many people who serve an elected office in the Bay Area who were mentored and supported and shaped by the leadership of Scott Haggerty. In closing, it was an honor to work with him, to consider him a friend and mentor. May we honor his memory by carrying forward his commitment to building a Bay Area and state that is more connected, more equitable, and more collaborative. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends and colleagues and also ask that we adjourn the Senate in his honor today.

Thank you Mr President I too had the honor of serving with Scott Haggerty for six years on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission I joined the MTC just a few months after I was sworn in as a new member of the Board of Supervisors, so I was very green, very new, and I knew that there were certain members of that commission who had truly been around the block and knew what they were doing. The senator from San Jose was one of them, and Scott Haggerty was another. And he was someone, if you look at just the facts on paper, he and I should have had really nothing in common. He was this former Republican, middle of the road to maybe a little bit conservative, guy from a very suburban to rural part of Alameda County. I was this lefty guy from San Francisco who wanted to fund the heck out of transit and bikes and pedestrian spaces and so forth. We're just very, very different. But Scott and I actually became quite close, and he pulled me in and helped to elevate me as a new commissioner on the commission. He was a true regionalist. He understood that when San Francisco succeeded, the East Bay succeeded, and vice versa. And he wanted to make sure that all parts of the region were getting what we needed in terms of investment and support. And so I worked very, very well with him over the six years. After coming to the Senate, I always looked forward when he would be up lobbying around transportation issues in the legislature. And it's just really just so depressing that he is gone. I know he had a lot ahead of him and was looking forward to it. And it's a real tragedy. and I just want to express my deepest condolences to his family and his community. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Presiding Officer. I rise today to adjourn in the memory of a beloved and incredible Sacramento hero named Jonathan Burgess. He passed away on May 11th at the age of 52 after a four-year battle with ALS. Jonathan is a South Sacramento native, and he served for more than 30 years, well over half of his life, with the Sacramento Fire Department, ended his career at the rank of Battalion Chief. In addition to his service with the Fire Department, Jonathan co-founded the restaurant Burgess Brothers, Barbecue and Burgers, with his equally dynamic twin brother, Matthew, who, by the way, this twin, is a member of the Sacramento Police Department. These two brothers are beloved across the city of Sacramento. In addition to being a firefighter and a business owner, Jonathan was a powerful advocate for reparations for the black community. He testified before the California Reparations Task Force in 2021 and worked to have his family legacy restored after the state took his ancestors land in Coloma by way of eminent domain He also published a children's book that documented his family's history as one of the earliest black settlers in the Coloma region. Jonathan will be remembered as a fierce protector of justice for his acts of service, his humor, and his radiant smile. Several of Jonathan's friends and family join us in the gallery today, including his wife Lauren, his daughters Justice and Jordan, his twin brother Matthew, his sister Tonya, many of his friends and colleagues from the Sacramento Fire Service, including Local 522 President Trevor Jamieson. Members, please join me in adjourning in the memory of a true Sacramento hero.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to join my Sacramento colleague in recognizing Jonathan Burgess. I did not know Jonathan well, but I know Jonathan's reputation well. One cannot avoid that. And at age 52, that is way, way too early. And my deepest sympathies go to his family members who are here today.

Thank you so much, Mr. President and members. Colleagues, I rise today and honor the life and legacy of a remarkable public servant, Marin County's Chief Probation Officer, Chief Marlon Washington. Chief Washington began his nearly three-decade-long career in law enforcement helping young people in the juvenile justice system, first in Napa County and then in Contra Costa. And then in 2020, the chief made history. He became Marin County's first African-American chief of probation, serving as only just three African-American chief probation officers in California at the time. This is an achievement that he was so incredibly proud of. For six years, he led more than 120 employees, working hard every day, Mr. President, to build a department grounded in rehabilitation, accountability, and the belief that anyone and everyone deserves a chance at a better future. During that time, Chief Washington championed the Clean Slate Program, helping those who completed probation to be able to get a new start on life. He took immense pride in the Career Explorers program, which introduced people from challenging backgrounds to careers in public service. He also worked to make the justice system more equitable and improve outcomes for young people, but in particular, young people of color. Because that was one of his core beliefs, that we can make our communities safer while also helping transform lives. The chief understood that public safety wasn't just responding to a 911 call or going to a crime. It was about upstream investment and preventing it, giving young people hope and hoping family be able to find a path forward. And he also knew that leadership meant lifting up his community. He showed up every day fighting for his department, fighting for the people and the families that he served, and fighting for the communities that he proudly represented. His colleagues knew him for his quiet strength, genuine spirit, and visionary leadership. He believed in people, he instilled confidence in those around him, and he changed lives every day he showed up in the office. And that's the public servant that we should all want, and that's what the chief dedicated his life to. And that is the legacy that he leaves behind, and the people he mentored, the lives he touched, and the communities that he served so faithfully. On behalf of the California State Senate, I would ask that we keep the Washington family and the Marin County Probation Department in our prayers, and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to adjourn in the Chief's memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I rise to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable man, Dr. Koinas L. Annex Jr., a gifted cardiac surgeon, a visionary leader, and a dear partner in our shared mission to make health care more equitable for every Californian. I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Annex on one of the initiatives he cared about most, the California Medicine Scholars Program. Together, we secured its initial funding in the 2021 state budget, creating new pathways for community college students to pursue careers in medicine. It was a two-year fight. Dr. Ennex believed that a student's background should never determine their future, and he dedicated his life to making that belief a reality. His vision reached far beyond California. Working alongside Congresswoman Barbara Lee, he helped inspire the National Medical Corps Act, driven by a simple but powerful belief that every community deserves doctors who understand the people they serve. The commitment to service defined his life. As a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Annex cared for patients across the Bay Area, bringing compassion and excellence to every operating room. Inspired by his father Civil Rights Attorney Coynes L N X Sr he carried forward a lifelong commitment to justice not in the courtroom but through medicine education and opportunity One of the defining moments of his life came in 1973 when he responded to the tragic assassination of Oakland Superintendent Dr Marcus Foster Although he was forced to pronounce Dr. Foster's passing, he saved the life of Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bob Blackburn. that experience inspired more than two decades of service with the Marcus Foster Education Institute, helping create educational opportunities for future generations. Above all, Dr. Enix was a devoted father, grandfather, mentor, and friend. His legacy is measured not only by the lives he saved as a surgeon, but by the doors he opened for countless others who now have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. I'm grateful to have known him, to have worked alongside him, and to have witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment to building a more just and compassionate health care system. May we honor his memory by carrying forward the work he cared so deeply about and by continuing to create opportunities for those who will follow in his footsteps. Members, please join me today in adjourning in the memory of Dr. Coynes L. N. X. Jr.

Thank you. Today I rise to honor the life and memory of Yolanda Yoli Rojo, a remarkable woman from Bakersfield whose love for her family and her community will never be forgotten. Yolanda's story began on October 6, 1995 in Bakersfield, where she was born and raised. From a young age, those around her saw someone who led with both determination and heart. Her years in Catholic school helped shape her deep sense of faith and compassion. while on her time on the volleyball court and the track field, taught her the value of perseverance, discipline, and how to lift those around her. But if you asked those who knew Yolanda what defined her most, they wouldn't begin with her accomplishments.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to pay tribute to the life and memory of John M. Mike Holmes, who died on June 27th of this year at the age of 86. He was a distinguished Californian and devoted Auburn City Council member and mayor and a longtime, very good friend of mine. Mike served in the United States Navy with distinction, retiring as a captain after a career that included deployments to Vietnam and Taiwan and earning numerous honors including the Legion of Merit Award the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal As a civilian he was a dedicated advocate for protecting Auburn history character and future He continued a life of service following his military career through his professional work and extensive civic involvement, including through his work on the Auburn City Council, to which he was elected in 2002, 2006, 2010, and again 2022, in addition to serving as mayor in 2005 and 2008. And I would point out that between 2010 and when he was reelected in 22 coincided with my absence from the legislature. And when he was first reelected and I was elected to the Senate, he made a point to come and visit with me in my district office. He was a very thoughtful guy. Mike's commitment to Auburn extended well beyond City Hall through his involvement in numerous community organizations and service initiatives. He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy to a host of devoted family members and friends, including Jim Holmes, Carol Hennig, and Harry Holmes. So please join me in closing today's session in the memory of a dedicated friend of Auburn and our region, Mike Holmes.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to my Senate colleagues for getting through the first week back. We have much work ahead of us in the month of August. We will adjourn today's session, and the next floor session will be scheduled for Monday, August 10th at 2 p.m. The Senate will be in recess until 3.30 p.m., at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, August 10, 2026, at 2 p.m.